Challenge with GM Rear Trailer Camera.

[crv0262]

I added the GM Auxiliary Trailer Camera to my Solitude 310GK-R coupled into our 3500HD Long bed. Because the GM Camera receiver is in the bumper vs in the bed, I brought the line for the camera out above the basement of the 310, in the center (added a X-Haibei RV Trailer Camper Electric Power Cord Cable Hatch Round Fits 2-3/4 inches Dia. Hole Flip Up Cover (Black) – from Amazon). On trip one, I ripped out the “plugin” because I did not allow enough slack in the line. This required me to get a new plug and the crimper to install a new coax plug (also Amazon - HKS Coax Ratchet Crimping Tool Kit for Coaxial RG Cable RF Connector with 5 Changeable Dies, Rotary Coaxial Cable Stripper/Cutter and Stripper/Cutter Piler, coupled with 5pcs RF coaxial Connector RP-TNC Male Plug Crimp for 50 Ohm RG58 RG142 lmr195 rg400 Cable, another $60 investment but now I have a new tool ? ). Trip 2, I nearly ripped it out again when backing into the storage lot (~ a 45 degree turn needed).
Has anyone with a 5th wheel found a way to prevent this from occurring? Can the Camera port that is in the bumper be added to the truck bed (GM part number?)? What is needed to fish the line from the basement to near the pin (I looked and it does not appear to have a clear opening from either the basement or from the closet)
TIA

 

[manderson]

We had the GM HD camera on our previous trailer. Because the connection was on the bumper I didn't try to route the cable through to the pin box but instead brought it up from under the trailer, up the the underside of the above the front compartment, ran it to the middle, then used a spring to hold the extra cable. Never had an issue pulling the cable out.

On the Solitude we went with a Haloview BT7 system. I loved the picture quality with the GM camera but wanted to easily view behind us while we drive and we normally have something running in Car Play.

 

[RonSel]

[MENTION=48929]crv0262[/MENTION] I just got a 2023 GMC (with the surround cameras) and am considering the camera. My plan was similar to what [MENTION=46478]manderson[/MENTION] showed above.
I currently have the Furrion and separate display monitor and have never found it very useful (and a pain having it on my dash).
A few questions if you don't mind:
1) What are you thoughts on the GM Aux trailer camera? Do you find it very useful? I don't yet understand when the cameras are active. If I play with the cameras (without a trailer attached) they time out. When hauling, when is the trailer camera active? I did haul a utility trailer about a mile and saw how the blinkers activate the cameras. I like this, but how does the rear camera work with this?
2) Did you mount up top, or bumper height.
Thanks

 

[manderson]

It has been a year since I had the trailer with the GM camera setup and my truck at that time was a 2018 3500. I mounted the camera near the top of the trailer then ran the cable across to the ladder then down the ladder. What I found is that you have to attach the camera cable to the truck before you start the engine or it won't be available to select. This was kind of a pain because sometimes I would back up and connect and not turn off the engine. Just something I had to get used to. Once the camera is available to select you can keep that up on the screen as long as you want and it will not go away. We use Apple Car Play so we always have navigation, music, etc up on the screen and it was a lot of touches to go from there to the camera and back again. Because my navigation was on the screen most of the time I really never ran with the backup camera visible very much unless I was backing up.

With the Haloview BT7 system I have a mount for the rear view mirror that holds the monitor. I just need to turn on my running lights and the three cameras connect. Now I can glance at my rear view mirror like I normally would if the trailer wasn't connected and see what is happening behind me on the BT7 monitor and still use the GM monitor for Car Play. If you put a memory card in the BT7 monitor you can also turn on recording for all the cameras.

The picture quality was way better with the GM camera but I am happy with the trade off in quality to make the system more useful for me. [MENTION=47703]RonSel[/MENTION] Hopefully that helps.

 

[crv0262]

[MENTION=48929]crv0262[/MENTION] I just got a 2023 GMC (with the surround cameras) and am considering the camera. My plan was similar to what [MENTION=46478]manderson[/MENTION] showed above.
I currently have the Furrion and separate display monitor and have never found it very useful (and a pain having it on my dash).
A few questions if you don't mind:
1) What are you thoughts on the GM Aux trailer camera? Do you find it very useful? I don't yet understand when the cameras are active. If I play with the cameras (without a trailer attached) they time out. When hauling, when is the trailer camera active? I did haul a utility trailer about a mile and saw how the blinkers activate the cameras. I like this, but how does the rear camera work with this?
2) Did you mount up top, or bumper height.
Thanks

The item I dislike about the GM Camera is the plug location on the 3500HD. Even though the truck is set up with a puck system and in bed power, the camera plug is in the bumper. For a 5th wheel, this is not optimal. I have ruined one Aux Trailer plug already. I am working now to see if I can move the plug to the bed and extend the cable. My camera is mounted above at the top of my 310GK, above the furion camera mount (which I dont use). This past trip I used the camera "full time" when traveling and I really liked the view. It was a clear view of the what was occurring behind me, and the camera stays active full time.

 

[RonSel]

I was kinda shocked to see that my 4 pin trailer is in the box, and the bumper 4pin was replaced with the camera connections. not sure who at GM thought that was a good idea. Anyway, I think I will get the camera and work thru the same issues. Thanks for update.

 

[FlyStar]

I mounted my GM camera up high also and display it most of the time while towing, especially in heavy traffic. Not too much trouble to get to the audio screen as needed.

I wonder if the new trucks with the bigger display allow for “windows” like management of what is on the screen. Don’t know.

I prefer google for nav so my Nav display is on the phone with a Bullet Point mount.

My rig is a trailer so the plug in the bumper is fine. Also had to Lear not to plug in the camera with the engine running.

For my bike rack lights I use a 7 to 4 pin converter since there is no 4 pin outside the truck bed. Works good for me.

 

[RonSel]

In case anyone cares. I got the GM camera and decided to mount under the rear window (about 7' high, right behind my drop down TV set). I did not want to run the wire on the roof or side (per the instruction book). So I decided to run it into the basements. The area up top where the factory Furion camera was installed seemed just to congested. On my trailer the rear basements run all the way up to the rear axle. From there, I dropped into the underbelly and took it all the way up to the start of the drop-frame. Then I attached it to the frame and come up into my front compartment. I have not yet figured out how I will permanently deal with a coiled harness in my front compartment (but now I can use it with a bungee and it stores it in a protected area).
So far a few pro/con of my decision:
Pro:
* no wires showing anywhere
Cons:
* The connector on the camera is large and awkwardly shaped. Every nice hole that I drilled had to have a nasty oblong on it to get connector thru it.
* What I thought was an hour job, took a day.

Recommendation: If you go with an internal cable routing, either figure out how to take the plug off (it looks like it should come off) or make a practice hole in scrap wood to the pattern you need figured out.

 

[crv0262]

In case anyone cares. I got the GM camera and decided to mount under the rear window (about 7' high, right behind my drop down TV set). I did not want to run the wire on the roof or side (per the instruction book). So I decided to run it into the basements. The area up top where the factory Furion camera was installed seemed just to congested. On my trailer the rear basements run all the way up to the rear axle. From there, I dropped into the underbelly and took it all the way up to the start of the drop-frame. Then I attached it to the frame and come up into my front compartment. I have not yet figured out how I will permanently deal with a coiled harness in my front compartment (but now I can use it with a bungee and it stores it in a protected area).
So far a few pro/con of my decision:
Pro:
* no wires showing anywhere
Cons:
* The connector on the camera is large and awkwardly shaped. Every nice hole that I drilled had to have a nasty oblong on it to get connector thru it.
* What I thought was an hour job, took a day.

Recommendation: If you go with an internal cable routing, either figure out how to take the plug off (it looks like it should come off) or make a practice hole in scrap wood to the pattern you need figured out.
View attachment 44340

With a 5th wheel, I have now pulled the cable out of the bumper housing twice. That housing comes apart, however to unscrew the F coaxial Connector RP-TNC Male Plug, you need to heat it first, as GM has glued the connector to the bumper plug. Replacement connectors are available on Amazon.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CCYCLXQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

After the second failure, I routed the wire (with an extension cable), also available on Amazon

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O071166/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am in the process of swapping my rear bumper 7 Pin, that has the Camera Ports, with the In Bed 7 Pin/4 pin connector. This requires 2 extension cables, I bought through Pasternack, www.pasternack.com part numbers:

Black FAKRA Jack to FAKRA Plug Low Loss Cable 36 Inch Length Using LMR-100 Coax, SKU: PE3W08444-36

Water Blue FAKRA Plug to FAKRA Jack Low Loss Cable 36 Inch Length Using LMR-100 Coax, SKU: PE3C2779-36.

 

[RonSel]

With a 5th wheel, I have now pulled the cable out of the bumper housing twice. That housing comes apart, however to unscrew the F coaxial Connector RP-TNC Male Plug, you need to heat it first, as GM has glued the connector to the bumper plug. Replacement connectors are available on Amazon.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CCYCLXQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

After the second failure, I routed the wire (with an extension cable), also available on Amazon

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O071166/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am in the process of swapping my rear bumper 7 Pin, that has the Camera Ports, with the In Bed 7 Pin/4 pin connector. This requires 2 extension cables, I bought through Pasternack, www.pasternack.com part numbers:

Black FAKRA Jack to FAKRA Plug Low Loss Cable 36 Inch Length Using LMR-100 Coax, SKU: PE3W08444-36

Water Blue FAKRA Plug to FAKRA Jack Low Loss Cable 36 Inch Length Using LMR-100 Coax, SKU: PE3C2779-36.

thanks for the info. let me know how it works out. I think that will be on my todo list.

 

[crv0262]

thanks for the info. let me know how it works out. I think that will be on my todo list.

I finished the swap of the 7 pin connectors, with the camera cable extensions, enabling the camera to now plug into the bed. With the pasternack cables, it was a fairly easy change. Probably had less than 2 hours total in the project.

 

[RonSel]

With a 5th wheel, I have now pulled the cable out of the bumper housing twice. That housing comes apart, however to unscrew the F coaxial Connector RP-TNC Male Plug, you need to heat it first, as GM has glued the connector to the bumper plug. Replacement connectors are available on Amazon.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CCYCLXQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

After the second failure, I routed the wire (with an extension cable), also available on Amazon

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O071166/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am in the process of swapping my rear bumper 7 Pin, that has the Camera Ports, with the In Bed 7 Pin/4 pin connector. This requires 2 extension cables, I bought through Pasternack, www.pasternack.com part numbers:

Black FAKRA Jack to FAKRA Plug Low Loss Cable 36 Inch Length Using LMR-100 Coax, SKU: PE3W08444-36

Water Blue FAKRA Plug to FAKRA Jack Low Loss Cable 36 Inch Length Using LMR-100 Coax, SKU: PE3C2779-36.

Well my first trip since installing.... wish I had listened to you better. I pulled the coax out of the connector. Guess I will be doing what you did sooner rather than later. LOL.

 

[Tim2542]

There is an extension cable you can buy, then swap the in bed 7 pin with the one in the bumper. Now you have the 7 pin and flat 4 in the bumper, and 7 pin and video connection in the bed. Just saw a guy has a YouTube on it with part number. “Burning rubber” channel.

 

[RonSel]

There is an extension cable you can buy, then swap the in bed 7 pin with the one in the bumper. Now you have the 7 pin and flat 4 in the bumper, and 7 pin and video connection in the bed. Just saw a guy has a YouTube on it with part number. “Burning rubber” channel.

Thanks for following up. I swapped the 4pin/7pin a few months ago. I also ran the camera coax so it comes out at the pin. Very easy once you have the cables.

 

[Nuffsaid]

I wish I would have seen this thread sooner. I just installed my new camera several days ago for use with my new 3500 GMC dually and today was the maiden voyage. I tested the length of the camera wire making a sharp right hand turn and I had plenty of slack. Well, my bad because apparently I didn't leave enough slack for a tight left hand turn and I ripped the plug apart this afternoon. Thank you for the link to the amazon coax ends, much cheaper than the ends on ebay. I am hoping I can cancel the ebay plug I ordered, but I also ordered the amazon ends. I really like the camera, very clear and stable. Kind of pricey though and why on earth did GM put the camera plugs in the bumper and a 4 pin inside the box?

 

[RonSel]

Here was my journey. Much more $ when I put it all together, and most of it could have been avoided. Oh well.....
Coax cables to swap Bumper/Bed 7 Pin connectors:
https://www.pasternack.com/

$33.89 SKU: PE3C2779-36
Water Blue FAKRA Plug to FAKRA Jack Low Loss Cable 36 Inch Length Using LMR-100 Coax
$32.89 SKU: PE3W08444-36
Black FAKRA Jack to FAKRA Plug Low Loss Cable 36 Inch Length Using LMR-100 Coax

Extend Camera Coax:
I needed to do this to extend the damaged camera connector up thru the 5th wheel interior so it come out near the pin.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O071166/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$18.91 Amphenol CO-058TNCMFRP-015 Black RG58 RP-TNC Coaxial Extension Cable, Male to Female, 15'

Coax repair crimper: $25
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KC7PRG5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Note this comes with connectors, but none of them are the correct ones. I am not making any recommendation for this tool.

Replacement connector: $16.98 (10pcs)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093WHWPYY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A few notes: When replacing a damaged connector on the camera, it is glued and you need to use a heat gun/hair dryer to loosen. There was a good youtube on this.

Take a good look at the coax connectors you think you need. BNC/TNC & male/Female get confusing.

 

[Fonecop1]

Thanks for following up. I swapped the 4pin/7pin a few months ago. I also ran the camera coax so it comes out at the pin. Very easy once you have the cables.

Any pointers on how you fished tha cake out at the pin box? I tried maneuvering an about 3/16 stiff piece of fish steel starting at the existing hole and I didn’t make it far.

 

[RonSel]

Any pointers on how you fished tha cake out at the pin box? I tried maneuvering an about 3/16 stiff piece of fish steel starting at the existing hole and I didn’t make it far.

I drilled a new hole back a few inches from the pin. That got me into an open chamber that goes to the front basement. Then I ran a wire backward to the basement (where I already had previously ran the coax) with the extended cable I mentioned above.
I really want to like the camera, but I spent more time installing than I ever spend using. lol.

 

[Fonecop1]

I drilled a new hole back a few inches from the pin. That got me into an open chamber that goes to the front basement. Then I ran a wire backward to the basement (where I already had previously ran the coax) with the extended cable I mentioned above.
I really want to like the camera, but I spent more time installing than I ever spend using. lol.

Thanks for the reply, hopefully won’t have too much time in it